Ukraine Crisis -- News Updates June 25, 2015

Former prime minister of the self-proclamed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) Alexander Borodai speaks during an interview with Reuters in Moscow, Russia, June 22, 2015. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Reuters: Russian former leader of Ukraine rebels warns of 'big war'

A ceasefire is likely to collapse in east Ukraine and Russia could be drawn into a "big war" to cleanse the "sore on its borders", the former leader of the region's pro-Russian separatists said.

Violence has eased but not halted in east Ukraine under what are known as the Minsk 2 agreements, reached in the Belarussian capital on Feb. 12 after an earlier ceasefire collapsed.

Alexander Borodai, a Russian citizen and former journalist for nationalist newspapers who emerged last year as prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), said he expects the Ukrainian army to launch a new offensive.

Ukraine Crisis -- News Updates June 25, 2015

Ukraine Talks Show Little Progress on Cease-fire, Political Deal -- VOA
Diplomats Seek to Calm Ukraine Fighting, Break Stalemate -- ABC News/AP
Foreign ministers meet as security situation in eastern Ukraine deteriorates -- Euronews
Violation of Ceasefire Between Russian-Backed Rebels and Ukrainian Government Continues, Kindergarten Targeted -- IBTimes
Ukraine rebels train child soldiers in the making -- Business Insider
Life in Ukraine's rebel-held Donetsk -- BBC
Running on empty in eastern Ukraine -- BBC
Ukraine’s intel chief: We weren’t ready -- Politico
Lithuania to become first country to arm Ukraine against Russia -- Ukraine Today
EU extends sanctions against Russia as Ukraine conflict rumbles on -- The Guardian
President Poroshenko Rules Out Federalization in Ukraine -- Sputnik
Ukraine’s President Poroshenko Says Overthrow of Yanukovych Was a Coup -- Global Research
With IMF backing, Ukraine heading for September debt moratorium -- Fiscal Times/Reuters
Loan Committee Makes Own Proposals on Ukraine's $15.3-Bln Debt Restructure -- Sputnik
Ukraine creditors lament unequal treatment of creditors -- Reuters
War, Russia, Poverty: Europeans ‘negative’ view of Ukraine -- Euronews
This Is How Russia Will Cut Out Ukraine -- OilPrice.com/Zerohedge
Putin’s War: The Ukraine Cease-Fire That Never Was -- Nolan Peterson, Newsweek